|
The visit to the eye surgeon went well. Both eyes were dilated, so my discomfort for the day was less than expected and, the report is everything is stable. I won’t need to return for six months. During the preliminary preparations I mentioned to the nurse I felt very fortunate to have been treated for the torn retina in this age, rather than before laser surgery. She explained there was nothing could be done before lasers, and in fact, torn or detached retinas, macular degeneration and some other eye maladies couldn’t be treated. She said, sadly other than trying medications, often the only thing to do was ease the eventual blindness that could (and often would) occur. Once again I am thankful for the knowledge and advances God has given to our doctors and medical science.
As we returned from this visit, I noticed some cars with frost or snow, while our car was free of either, because of our garage. This gave me pause and another reason to be thankful, for the ‘things’ we’re so blessed with and so often take for granted. I thought about orphans, homeless and poverty stricken people in ‘third world’ countries and those who are struggling to find food or water in famine or drought affected nations and areas. I’m so fortunate that even my cars and lawnmowers have a ‘house’!
I remembered some of the shanties and huts I saw made from cardboard, old cars and whatever could be used for shelter in Arizona and New Mexico in the 1980s. In America, we have TV commercials tugging at our ‘heart-strings’ to give for abandoned and mistreated animals. I often wonder about anyone who would send their dollars to save maltreated animals, but not a penny for starving humans. As I offered my prayer of thanks and concern for others, I felt both shame and blessing to have been born in a country of freedom and opportunity. Even our homeless can find food and clothing with more opportunity than other nations. This fact doesn’t absolve any of us from giving. Jesus told the rich young ruler to “sell all you have and give the money to the poor”. Do we need to sell everything and give it all away? I can’t answer for you, but I believe if my ‘possessions’ are more important to me than people… I should. If we are willing to share our ‘things’, give to the needy and are willing to feed the hungry; look into the eyes of the dirty, naked and ill; we can then ‘see, feed, clothe, comfort and visit Jesus’ when He is hungry, naked, sick or in prison!
Father, enable me to ‘see’ Jesus in everyone, as I give thanks. Let me see my blessings not in ‘things’, but in the people You’ve placed in or send into my life. Forgive my selfishness and my sin, as I forgive other sinners. I lift these loved ones and cares: Susie B’s brother-in-law, Paul M, Pete & Sue Z, Alex R’s family and friends, Maggie M, Ginny B, Doug F, John S, Sean C & family, Bob F, Susan H - daughter-in-law Brandelyn - son Brock & all their family, Roy and Becky M – Becky’s mom, Amy, Nick & Jane (Canada), Mitzi F, Chris & Michelle M, David, Kenny Rice, John P, Chip C, Pastor Dave Kepple, Maxine Mayhugh, Michelle S, Avery family, Aaron, Jack H, Larry W & family, Patty D, Tom & wife, Chris H, Mark & Ann C, Maddie, Cindy S, Katelyn S (infant) & her dad, Lucas, Sierra, Rodney Z, daughter-in-law & baby, Those going through treatments and medical procedures, Betty Y, Marie’s daughters, Marcie C, Tammy & son Alex, Rodney B & family, Betsye A, Unspoken needs, Dave & Carol A, Elizabeth S, Sarah M, Amanda, Teresa, Don & Brenda F, Ethan, Andee, Trina I, Jill & Joe Vanuch, Rick & Mary C, Julie S, A young mother’s employment search, Joanne, Norm M’s sister, Doug H, Terri G, James, John M, Katy H’s mom, Chris C, Jennifer W, Dan – Kristie Ward & family, Susie P, Chelsea M, Ellen S, John P, Alisha T, Melanie, Jeanine Dixon, Imogene, Emma Louise B, Bill D, Linda Z’s (Florida) brother Joe, pastor Dave M, Sue & Dan B, John P, Howard I, John & Gayle K, Jonathan, Bill C, Nellie M & family, Bud W (in LA), Mary Catherine H, Susie J, Alvin T, Kyle C, Cheri H, Jim L, Bill Blain, Dee S, J D, Ruth H, Kathy K, Sam & Mary P, Linda H, Diane M, Kevin S, Mike R & family, Joe & Lori D, Debbie F’s nephew Chris, Vangie B, Brenda M. Stacy F, Robin D & family, Jude B, Nancy F, Dave @ gym, Mazie W, Marion H, Jerry P, Bill & Shari (Arizona), Michael P, Patrice S, Gary H, Naomi’s Heart Mission, Dean S, Dustin, Dylan, those ending addiction or habit, our families for salvation and guidance, Those grieving, depressed, fighting or working for freedom, safety from terror, neglected, abused & missing children, God’s servants & churches, those looking for work, in rehab programs our families and all we hold dear in our hearts. I pray with gratitude and desire to be Jesus’ hands and feet….
Amen
Memory Verse: “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
Matthew 25:40 New International Version ~ ~ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew 25:31-46 NIV
|